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David Janssen

David Janssen

David Janssen was born David Harold Meyer in 1931 in Naponee, Nebraska, to Berniece Mae (Graf) and Harold Edward Meyer, a banker. He was of German, and some Swiss-German and Ulster-Scots, descent. David took the surname of his stepfather, Eugene Janssen. The Janssen family settled in Hollywood when he was a teenager and he attended Fairfax High School, where he developed an interest in acting. His film debut was a bit part in It's a Pleasure (1945), and at the age of 18 signed a contract with 20th Century-Fox. However, the studio dropped him after allegedly becoming disenchanted with his odd hairline and big prominent ears. Janssen had better luck at Universal, where he signed on in the early 1950s and became a supporting player in 32 films before appearing on TV as the star of Richard Diamond, Private Detective (1956). He resumed his movie career in 1961, a year after the series ended. His biggest success came from his lead in the series The Fugitive (1963), playing the haunted, hunted Dr. Richard Kimble, on the run for a murder he didn't commit. After the series ended, Janssen launched himself into a grueling schedule by appearing in lead and supporting roles in movies, but he had better luck with made-for-TV-movie roles and a short-lived series, O'Hara, U.S. Treasury (1971). He had another hit series with the cult favorite Harry O (1973). Janssen continued appearing in lead roles in nearly 20 made-for-TV-movies during the 1970s as well as other TV projects. He died in 1980 from a sudden heart attack at his Malibu home at the age of 48. Unfounded speculation holds that Janssen succumbed to alcoholism, a problem that plagued him most of his adult life. There were even unfounded rumors about drug use. However, a much more reasonable explanation for David Janssen's sudden demise is that this intense, dedicated, determined actor simply worked himself to death.

From an IMDB Mini-Bio for David Janssen

Los Angeles Plays Itself

2004

as Steve in Two-Minute Warning (archive footage)

Inchon

1981

as David Feld

City in Fear

1980

as Vince Perrino

S.O.S. Titanic

1980

as John Jacob Astor

High Ice

1980

as Glencoe MacDonald

The Golden Gate Murders

1979

as Det. Sgt. Paul Silver

The Word

1978

as Steve Randall

Centennial

1978

as Narrator

Covert Action

1978

as Lester Horton

Nowhere to Run

1978

as Harry Adams

Superdome

1978

as Mike Shelley

Golden Rendezvous

1977

as Charles Conway

A Sensitive, Passionate Man

1977

as Michael Delaney

Mayday at 40,000 Feet

1977

as Capt. Pete Douglass

Warhead

1977

as Tony Stevens

Two-Minute Warning

1976

as Steve

Stalk the Wild Child

1976

as Dr. James Hazard

Joys

1976

as Self

The Swiss Conspiracy

1976

as David Christopher

Once Is Not Enough

1975

as Tom Colt

Dinah!

1974

as Self

Fer-de-Lance

1974

as Russ Bogan

Harry O

1974

Smile Jenny, You're Dead

1974

as Harry Orwell

Pioneer Woman

1973

as Robert Douglas

Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On

1973

as Harry Orwell

Hijack!

1973

as Jake Wilkenson

Police Story

1973

Birds of Prey

1973

as Harry Walker

Moon of the Wolf

1972

as Sheriff Aaron Whitaker

The Longest Night

1972

as Alan Chambers

O'Hara, U.S. Treasury

1971

Cannon

1971

O'Hara, United States Treasury: Operation Cobra

1971

as James O'Hara

Macho Callahan

1971

as Diego Callahan

Night Chase

1970

as Adrian Vico

Generation

1969

as Jim Bolton

Marooned

1969

as Ted Dougherty

Where It's At

1969

as A.C. Smith

The Shoes of the Fisherman

1968

as George Faber

The Green Berets

1968

as George Beckworth

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

1967

as Self

Warning Shot

1967

as Sgt. Tom Valens

The Hollywood Palace

1964

as Self - Host

The Fugitive

1963

as Richard Kimble

My Six Loves

1963

as Marty Bliss

The Eleventh Hour

1962

as Hal Kincaid

Belle Sommers

1962

as Danny Castle

The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene Stealers

1962

as Self

Target: The Corruptors!

1961

Man-Trap

1961

as Vince Biskay

Cain's Hundred

1961

as Dan Mullin

Twenty Plus Two

1961

as Tom Alder

Ring of Fire

1961

as Sergeant Steve Walsh

King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein

1961

as Arnold Rothstein

Dondi

1961

as Dealey

Route 66

1960

as Karno Starling

Checkmate

1960

as Len Kobalsky

Hell to Eternity

1960

as Sgt, Bill Hazen

Adventures in Paradise

1959

as Scotty Bell

Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse

1958

as Ross Ingraham

Naked City

1958

as Blair Cameron

Naked City

1958

as Carl Ashland

Lafayette Escadrille

1958

as Duke Sinclair

Alcoa Theatre

1957

as Mike Harper

Richard Diamond, Private Detective

1957

as Richard Diamond / Chuck Garrett

The Girl He Left Behind

1956

as Capt. Genaro

Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre

1956

as Dix Porter

Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre

1956

as Seth Larker

Showdown at Abilene

1956

as Verne Ward

U.S. Marshall

1956

as Arnie Hix

Away All Boats

1956

as uncredited

Francis in the Haunted House

1956

as Police Lieutenant Hopkins

Toy Tiger

1956

as Larry Tripps

Never Say Goodbye

1956

as Dave Heller

The Square Jungle

1955

as Jack Lindsay

All That Heaven Allows

1955

as Freddie Norton (uncredited)

Matinee Theater

1955

To Hell and Back

1955

as Lt Lee

Francis in the Navy

1955

as Lieutenant Anders

The Private War of Major Benson

1955

as Young Lieutenant

Chief Crazy Horse

1955

as Lt. Colin Cartwright

Cult of the Cobra

1955

as Rico Nardi

The Millionaire

1955

as Peter Miller

The Millionaire

1955

as David Barrett

General Electric Theater

1953

as Pat Howard

Yankee Buccaneer

1952

as Beckett

Francis Goes to West Point

1952

as Cpl. Thomas (as Dave Janssen)

No Room for the Groom

1952

as Soldier (scenes deleted)

Lux Video Theatre

1950

as Ralph / Joe Davies

Lux Video Theatre

1950

as Johnny Reynolds, Jr.